Rockies Prospects: Hot, Cold, and Surprising PuRPs of the month

This week marked the end of the first full month in the minor leagues, so I wanted to take an unbiased look at how the top prospects in the Rockies system (PuRPs) were doing. The reason I say unbiased, is because the PuRPs polling thread is around the corner and I don't want to influence anyone's votes through my own preferences, but I figured it would be good to look at the hottest, coldest and most surprising prospects to consider for the PuRPs poll. All statistics listed are through Wednesday.

Skyrockets in Flight

Catcher Tom Murphy is the hottest prospect in baseball. He leads the entire minor leagues, with a minimum 60 plate appearances, in OPS at 1.423 and he's slugging at an unworldly pace. His seven home runs leads the organization and he's throwing out base stealers at a higher rate than he did last year. So, not only is he playing well with the bat, but he's also fielding a very tough position at a competitive level.

Shortstop Rosell Herrera has returned to Asheville and this time he's ready to play. The tall infielder has six home runs on the season and is second in OPS to Murphy. Herrera's stock was extremely low last season when he hit only .202 in Asheville before being sent down to Short-season Tri City. This season his portfolio is on the rise, as he is exceeding the playing level many expected of him last year.

Kyle Parker and Corey Dickerson are a couple of outfielders who moved up this season after sharing time in Modesto's outfield last year. Dickerson skipped over Tulsa after playing only 67 games in Double-A and hasn't missed a beat. The left-handed Dickerson is batting .374 and has already put up a 15 game hitting streak and has five triples through April nearly match his total from last year. Parker meanwhile has performed up to expectations hitting .276 with six home runs. While Kyle's statistics may not be eye-popping, he has come up big when needed this year and already has a pair of walkoff hits.

From a pitching standpoint there is no one hotter than Eddie Butler right now. He's thrown three games, of one-hit shutouts this season and sports a 1.76 ERA. Butler's strikeout rate is at a solid, if not spectacular 8.34 K/9. The Achilles heel for the 2012 Supplemental First Rounder is the fact he's walking people at an unusual clip compared to last season, but his groundball rate of 70% is inducing plenty of double plays to counter the extra runners.

Chad Bettis has enjoyed a successful return from his injured shoulder that kept him completely out of last season. He hasn't been spectacular, but a 4.06 ERA his first month back shows the rust is shaking off quite nicely. His peripheral numbers indicate there's some better games ahead as his BABIP will begin to normalize, it currently sits at .381. Chad has rediscovered his strikeout pitch since coming back and reports are that his velocity is sitting in the healthy mid-90's.

The two Tylers of Matzek and Anderson are doing well to start the season, at least going by their ERA's which are within points of each other at 3.18. Anderson's peripherals are a little brighter however, as he's inducing more groundballs, walking fewer batters and striking out more people. Matzek's strike out rate is at an all-time low and he's giving up more flyballs than is usual for him.

Stuck in Folsom Prison

Probably the most disappointing performances this season has to be from Trevor Story and Will Swanner, both are hitting south of the Mendoza line and have yet to find their stroke. Swanner is having the most trouble adapting to High-A pitching, where he's striking out at nearly a 50% rate and still maintaining a normal BABIP, so there's no good news on the horizon for this young catcher. Story is showing signs of coming out of his slump as he's reached base safely in eight consecutive games and is batting .250 in that time period.

Sky Sox outfielder Tim Wheeler is another player scuffling in the first month of the season. Coming off a broken hamate last season, it was expected his power would return this year. However, he's batting only .202/.311/.270 without a single home run in Triple-A Colorado Springs.

From a pitching standpoint, most of the Rockies starters are doing well, although it was surprising to see Parker Frazier, Joe Gardner and Rob Scahill moved to the bullpen. Frazier and Scahill have adapted well to their new roles, but the third person in the Ubaldo trade is really struggling right now with a 5.96 ERA in Double-A Tulsa.

It's a little tough to see Supplemental First Rounder Peter Tago assigned to Extended Spring Training again and most likely headed back to Short-season Tri City. There hasn't been much to add value to his status since he was drafted three years ago.

Believe It or Not I'm Walkin' on Air

Listed in the table below, are a handful of non-PuRPs who have been making the most of their opportunities this year. They are players who are having a good month and are an appropriate age for the level they're at.

Catcher Ryan Casteel is taking advantage of Will Swanner's slump by hitting .306/.348/.629 for High-A Modesto. Casteel has always played an understudy to Swanner, but he's taking a lead role this year and is hitting so well, that he's also been called on to DH in a few games.

Derek Jones was the Rockies eighth round selection in last years draft, but he didn't get much of an opportunity until David Dahl missed his flight this year. Jones has four home runs and is one of the system's leaders in stolen bases with six. As a left-handed hitter, he provides some roster flexibility as he can play outfield and first base.

Modesto's pitching staff has been light's out this season and starters Dan Winkler, Ben Alsup, and Chris Jensen have all contributed. Winkler leads the three with a 2.57 ERA, which doesn't include his one hit shutout with nine strikeouts on Thursday. Jensen is the youngest of the three, but Alsup carries the best strikeout rate. Anyway you slice them, it's a good looking staff right now.

While relievers are rarely included in the PuRPs list, Rex Brothers being one of the recent exceptions, there are a couple that have pitched well this past month. Scott Oberg surprised many Rockies fans when he skipped Asheville and was assigned to High-A Modesto. Oberg has been hot and cold, with eight saves and a 3.38 ERA on the hot side and four blown saves on the cold side. Ryan Arrowood has been working as a piggy back reliever who is averaging two and a half innings per outing. He has a 2.25 ERA and has one of the best strikeout rates in the system.

The table below lists the PuRPs in order split into hitters and pitchers. At the bottom are the players not ranked as a PuRP, but who have been playing well this first month.

HITTERS	Age	Tm	G	PA	Iso	HR	BABIP	K%	BB%	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS ▾	wOBA
David Dahl, OF - Low-A	19.17	ASH	10	42	0.150	0	0.344	19%	4.8%	2	0.275	0.310	0.425	0.735	0.309
Nolan Arenado, 3B - MLB	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Trevor Story, SS - High-A	20.58	MOD	30	124	0.089	1	0.261	33.9%	7.3%	4	0.170	0.244	0.259	0.503	0.231
Kyle Parker, OF - AA	23.75	TUL	31	131	0.204	6	0.301	18.3%	6.1%	1	0.276	0.321	0.480	0.801	0.377
Will Swanner, C - High-A	21.75	MOD	21	85	0.091	1	0.314	48.2%	8.2%	1	0.156	0.235	0.247	0.482	0.210
Corey Dickerson, OF - AA	24.08	COL	25	106	0.222	2	0.412	12.3%	5.7%	3	0.374	0.406	0.596	1.002	0.403
Rafael Ortega, OF - AA	22.08	TUL	7	27	0.000	0	0.100	18.5%	7.4%	1	0.080	0.148	0.080	0.228	0.120
Tim Wheeler, OF - AAA	25.42	COL	26	103	0.068	0	0.277	23.3%	11.7%	2	0.202	0.311	0.270	0.581	0.270
Tom Murphy, C - Low-A	22.17	ASH	19	83	0.477	7	0.513	22.9%	14.5%	2	0.415	0.531	0.892	1.423	0.577
Rosell Herrera, SS/3B - Low-A	20.67	ASH	30	137	0.233	6	0.424	19%	11.7%	6	0.362	0.444	0.595	1.039	0.453
Wilfredo Rodriguez, C - Extended	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cristhian Adames, SS - AA	21.92	TUL	24	90	0.050	0	0.318	16.7%	8.9%	3	0.259	0.326	0.309	0.635	0.332
Harold Riggins, 1B - High-A	23.25	MOD	28	116	0.194	4	0.479	44%	11.2%	0	0.262	0.345	0.456	0.801	0.350
Taylor Featherston, SS - High-A	23.67	MOD	18	85	0.158	2	0.365	25.9%	5.9%	4	0.276	0.353	0.434	0.787	0.338
Charlie Culberson, 2B - AAA	24.17	COL	28	114	0.184	3	0.337	20.2%	3.5%	3	0.284	0.310	0.468	0.778	0.329
Julian Yan, OF - Low-A	21.58	ASH	27	112	0.109	1	0.355	33.9%	5.4%	8	0.228	0.291	0.337	0.628	0.269
Sam Mende, IF - High-A	23.42	MOD	13	47	0.068	0	0.321	34%	2.1%	3	0.205	0.255	0.273	0.528	0.228
Ryan Garvey, OF - Extended	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Max White, OF - Extended	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
David Kandilas, OF - High-A	22.75	MOD	27	121	0.066	1	0.346	22.3%	11.6%	7	0.267	0.355	0.333	0.688	0.322
Miguel Dilone, 2B - DSL	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Kent Matthes, OF - AA	26.42	TUL	32	137	0.237	4	0.34	21.2%	4.4%	6	0.283	0.331	0.520	0.851	0.365
NON-PuRPs
Ryan Casteel, C - High-A	22	MOD	16	66	0.323	4	0.341	21.2%	6.1%	1	0.306	0.348	0.629	0.977	0.379
Derek Jones 1B/OF - Low-A	23	ASH	26	113	0.244	4	0.412	23%	7.1%	6	0.327	0.405	0.571	0.976	0.400
Ben Paulsen 1B - AAA	25.67	COL	20	85	0.237	2	0.391	16.5%	5.9%	0	0.338	0.376	0.575	0.951	0.413

PITCHERS	Age	Tm	G	BF	IP	ERA	FIP	SIERA	GB%	LD%	BABIP	K%	BB%	KS%	HR/9	BB/9	K/9
Chad Bettis, RHP - AA	24.17	TUL	6	130	31	4.06	3.01	2.73	46.7%	20%	0.381	25%	4%	18%	0.870	1.45	9.58
Tyler Anderson, LHP - High-A	23.5	MOD	7	160	39.2	3.18	4.18	3.36	49.6%	10.6%	0.252	23%	6%	19%	1.360	2.27	8.17
Tyler Matzek, LHP - AA	22.67	TUL	6	133	31	3.19	3.85	4.80	37.1%	18%	0.295	19%	14%	15%	0.290	5.23	7.26
Edwar Cabrera, LHP - Injured	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Eddie Butler, RHP - Low-A	22.25	ASH	7	166	41	1.76	3.81	3.25	70.9%	5.8%	0.163	23%	13%	21%	0.440	4.83	8.34
Jayson Aquino, LHP - Extended	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Joe Gardner, RHP - AA	25.25	TUL	11	105	22.2	5.96	4.13	4.00	49.3%	20.3%	0.333	21%	11%	17%	0.790	4.76	8.74
Rob Scahill, RHP - AAA	26.33	COL	10	108	25.2	3.86	3.71	3.39	53.2%	15.2%	0.333	20%	6%	17%	1.050	2.1	7.71
Peter Tago, RHP - Extended	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Christian Bergman, RHP - AA	25.08	TUL	7	161	39.2	3.18	3.63	3.68	45.8%	15%	0.270	19%	5%	9%	0.910	1.82	7.03
Parker Frazier, RHP - AA	24.58	TUL	9	87	21.1	2.95	4.09	4.22	45%	15%	0.339	20%	10%	15%	0.840	3.8	7.17
Ryan Warner, RHP - Extended	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Danny Winkler, RHP - High-A	23.33	MOD	6	138	35	2.57	3.23	3.08	37.2%	16%	0.233	25%	6%	16%	0.770	2.06	8.74
NON-PuRPs
Ben Alsup, RHP - High-A	24.75	MOD	7	155	36	3.50	3.09	3.11	46.2%	23.6%	0.311	25%	7%	21%	0.750	2.50	9.50
Chris Jensen, RHP - High-A	22.75	MOD	7	164	39	4.15	3.28	3.11	42.7%	17.1%	0.295	23%	4%	20%	0.920	1.62	8.77
Scott Oberg, RHP - High-A	23.25	MOD	14	61	13.1	3.38	3.73	4.11	37.8%	16.2%	0.303	25%	15%	18%	0.680	6.08	10.13

Tweet of the Week

@ddahl21 ay scrub. Lol heard you got outta prison? 

— Mr. Shepherd (@_JordanS88) May 7, 2013

Twitter Pic of the Week

Disappointed that Bill Geivett made us late getting to the ballpark.... #betterthanthat #longlosttwin twitter.com/Tylercolvin21/...

— Tyler Colvin (@Tylercolvin21) May 2, 2013